The Nurses' Memorial Chapel at Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand, is registered as a Category I heritage building. The chapel is significant as New Zealand's first hospital chapel, and as the country's only World War I memorial solely dedicated to women,[1] and is worldwide the only hospital chapel dedicated to nurses who died in World War I.[2]
Nurses' Memorial Chapel
The Nurses Memorial Chapel following the February 2011 earthquake
The foundation stone shows the name of the Duchess of York, but her husband stood in for her as she was ill that day
Sibylla Maude and Mabel Thurston, both former matrons of Christchurch Hospital, first thought of a chapel at the hospital.[3] Rose Muir, the matron from 1919 to 1936, wrote to the hospital board in July 1924 reiterating the need for a chapel. This request was approved in principle in January 1925.[4] The hospital board provided the land and paid for the foundation and the basement, and was in turn granted the use of the basement. The Ministry of Health did not permit the hospital board to fund any other part of the building, and the government did not provide any of the funds either, but suggested that the public should fund the chapel.[4] A fundraising campaign commenced in November 1925.[1]
The foundation stone was laid on 15 March 1927 by the Duke of York. The foundation stone shows the name of the Duchess of York, but she was ill on the day and her husband stood in for her.[4][3] The chapel was built during 1927 to a design by John Goddard Collins (1886–1965) of Collins and Harman, who offered his time free of charge.[1]
The first service was held on Christmas Day of 1927.[1] The chapel is dedicated to nurses who died during World War I, and to nurses who died during the 1918 flu pandemic. Three Christchurch nurses—Nona Hildyard, Margaret Rogers and Lorna Rattray—died when the troopship SS Marquette was sunk in 1915 by a German submarine. Two Christchurch nurses—Grace Beswick and Hilda Hooker—died during the flu pandemic.[1]
Threats of demolitionedit
In the mid-1970s, the hospital board proposed to demolish the chapel to make way for additional operating theatres. This was met with strong opposition, and the hospital board found a solution that left the chapel in place. The next threat of demolition occurred in the 1980s and was again met with strong opposition, with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust issuing a protection notice in August 1989. Subsequently, the hospital board leased the building to Christchurch City Council, and it is administered by a trust and cared for by a group that calls itself 'Friends of the Chapel'.[1]
Earthquakesedit
The chapel was closed after 4 September 2010 Canterbury earthquake had damaged the building. It suffered additional damage in subsequent earthquakes. In October 2011, the Canterbury District Health Board announced that the chapel would be repaired, after demolition had been considered.[5] Work to restore the chapel began in October 2017 and despite some unforeseen setbacks, was completed to schedule in October 2018.[6] It was re-opened by the Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy on 27 October 2018.[7]
Architectureedit
Collins chose the Arts and Crafts architectural style for the building, with the walls made of exposed brick inside and out, and timberwork on the inside.[1] The timber includes Oregon panelling, and blackwood and oak parquet floor. There are carvings in the sanctuary by Frederick Gurnsey and Jack Vivian. In the early 1990s, a porch was added to the chapel.[8]
Rose Muir, Matron of Christchurch Hospital 1916 – 1936
Grace Widdowson, 1971
Lamb of God & The Dove of Peace
Gifted from the former St. Mary's Church, Merivale
Poppy's Remembrance
Suzanne Johnson
Poppy Blaythwayt, home sister at Christchurch Hospital Nurses' Home, 1950s and 1960s
2000
Nurses' Memorial Window
Stephen Belanger-Taylor
First and Second World War nurses
Heritage registrationedit
The New Zealand Historic Places Trust registered the building with registration number 1851 on 20 July 1989. The chapel is significant as New Zealand's first hospital chapel, and as the country's only World War I memorial solely dedicated to women,[1] and is worldwide the only hospital chapel dedicated to nurses who died in World War I.[2]
Referencesedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nurses Memorial Chapel.
^ abcdefghi"Nurses' Memorial Chapel". New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero. Heritage New Zealand. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
^ ab"Welcome to the Christchurch Nurses Memorial Chapel". Friends of the Chapel. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
^ ab"Nurses' Chapel". The Press. Vol. LXIII, no. 18951. 16 March 1927. p. 9. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
^ abc. Friends of the Chapel. Archived from the original on 6 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
^Stylianou, Georgina (14 October 2011). "Historic chapel saved from wreckers". The Press. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
^Guildford, Jonathon (27 October 2018). ""Historic Christchurch nurses' memorial chapel reopens"". The Press. Retrieved 19 March 2020.
^"Re-opening of the Nurses Memorial Chapel". gg.govt.nz. 27 October 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2023.
^Blundell, Sally (26 August 2012). "Chapel holds special place for nurses". The Press. Retrieved 6 March 2016.
^Latham, Iris. "Jean Neill Erwin". Te Ara – The Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 1 July 2016.
April 13, 2024
nurses, memorial, chapel, christchurch, hospital, zealand, registered, category, heritage, building, chapel, significant, zealand, first, hospital, chapel, country, only, world, memorial, solely, dedicated, women, worldwide, only, hospital, chapel, dedicated, . The Nurses Memorial Chapel at Christchurch Hospital New Zealand is registered as a Category I heritage building The chapel is significant as New Zealand s first hospital chapel and as the country s only World War I memorial solely dedicated to women 1 and is worldwide the only hospital chapel dedicated to nurses who died in World War I 2 Nurses Memorial ChapelThe Nurses Memorial Chapel following the February 2011 earthquake43 32 03 S 172 37 27 E 43 53419 S 172 62429 E 43 53419 172 62429LocationChristchurch Hospital Christchurch Central City ChristchurchCountryNew ZealandDenominationinterdenominationalWebsitecnmc wbr org wbr nzHistoryStatusclosed due to damage sustained in the 2010 Canterbury earthquakeHeritage New Zealand Category 1Designated20 July 1989 1 Reference no 1851 Contents 1 History 1 1 Threats of demolition 1 2 Earthquakes 2 Architecture 2 1 Stained glass windows 3 Heritage registration 4 ReferencesHistory edit nbsp The foundation stone shows the name of the Duchess of York but her husband stood in for her as she was ill that daySibylla Maude and Mabel Thurston both former matrons of Christchurch Hospital first thought of a chapel at the hospital 3 Rose Muir the matron from 1919 to 1936 wrote to the hospital board in July 1924 reiterating the need for a chapel This request was approved in principle in January 1925 4 The hospital board provided the land and paid for the foundation and the basement and was in turn granted the use of the basement The Ministry of Health did not permit the hospital board to fund any other part of the building and the government did not provide any of the funds either but suggested that the public should fund the chapel 4 A fundraising campaign commenced in November 1925 1 The foundation stone was laid on 15 March 1927 by the Duke of York The foundation stone shows the name of the Duchess of York but she was ill on the day and her husband stood in for her 4 3 The chapel was built during 1927 to a design by John Goddard Collins 1886 1965 of Collins and Harman who offered his time free of charge 1 The first service was held on Christmas Day of 1927 1 The chapel is dedicated to nurses who died during World War I and to nurses who died during the 1918 flu pandemic Three Christchurch nurses Nona Hildyard Margaret Rogers and Lorna Rattray died when the troopship SS Marquette was sunk in 1915 by a German submarine Two Christchurch nurses Grace Beswick and Hilda Hooker died during the flu pandemic 1 Threats of demolition edit In the mid 1970s the hospital board proposed to demolish the chapel to make way for additional operating theatres This was met with strong opposition and the hospital board found a solution that left the chapel in place The next threat of demolition occurred in the 1980s and was again met with strong opposition with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust issuing a protection notice in August 1989 Subsequently the hospital board leased the building to Christchurch City Council and it is administered by a trust and cared for by a group that calls itself Friends of the Chapel 1 Earthquakes edit The chapel was closed after 4 September 2010 Canterbury earthquake had damaged the building It suffered additional damage in subsequent earthquakes In October 2011 the Canterbury District Health Board announced that the chapel would be repaired after demolition had been considered 5 Work to restore the chapel began in October 2017 and despite some unforeseen setbacks was completed to schedule in October 2018 6 It was re opened by the Governor General Dame Patsy Reddy on 27 October 2018 7 Architecture editCollins chose the Arts and Crafts architectural style for the building with the walls made of exposed brick inside and out and timberwork on the inside 1 The timber includes Oregon panelling and blackwood and oak parquet floor There are carvings in the sanctuary by Frederick Gurnsey and Jack Vivian In the early 1990s a porch was added to the chapel 8 Stained glass windows edit Name of window Designer Dedicated to UnveilingThe Angel of Charity and a Waif Veronica Whall Mary Ewart first qualified nurse at Christchurch Hospital Matron 1898 1908 Bishop West Watson 1933Faith and a Sick Child Veronica Whall Sybilla Maude Nurse Maude founder of the Nurse Maude Association Archbishop Julius 1936Christ and Children Veronica Whall Annie Pattrick wartime nurse and supporter of the early Plunket Society Chaplain Henry Williams 1939The Angel of Hope Veronica Whall Pioneer nurses Bishop Warren 1953The Conversion of St Paul Francis Spear Mabel Thurston wartime nurse and Matron of Christchurch Hospital 1908 1916 Bishop Warren 1964St Agatha Francis Spear Mary Christmas Marquette survivor and first nursing tutor at the Christchurch Preliminary School of Nursing Marquette survivors Jean Erwin and Emily Hodges 1968 9 St Faith Francis Spear Rose Muir Matron of Christchurch Hospital 1916 1936 Grace Widdowson 1971Lamb of God amp The Dove of Peace Gifted from the former St Mary s Church MerivalePoppy s Remembrance Suzanne Johnson Poppy Blaythwayt home sister at Christchurch Hospital Nurses Home 1950s and 1960s 2000Nurses Memorial Window Stephen Belanger Taylor First and Second World War nursesHeritage registration editThe New Zealand Historic Places Trust registered the building with registration number 1851 on 20 July 1989 The chapel is significant as New Zealand s first hospital chapel and as the country s only World War I memorial solely dedicated to women 1 and is worldwide the only hospital chapel dedicated to nurses who died in World War I 2 References edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nurses Memorial Chapel a b c d e f g h i Nurses Memorial Chapel New Zealand Heritage List Rarangi Kōrero Heritage New Zealand Retrieved 5 March 2016 a b Welcome to the Christchurch Nurses Memorial Chapel Friends of the Chapel Retrieved 5 March 2016 a b Nurses Chapel The Press Vol LXIII no 18951 16 March 1927 p 9 Retrieved 5 March 2016 a b c Construction Friends of the Chapel Archived from the original on 6 March 2016 Retrieved 5 March 2016 Stylianou Georgina 14 October 2011 Historic chapel saved from wreckers The Press Retrieved 6 March 2016 Guildford Jonathon 27 October 2018 Historic Christchurch nurses memorial chapel reopens The Press Retrieved 19 March 2020 Re opening of the Nurses Memorial Chapel gg govt nz 27 October 2018 Retrieved 24 July 2023 Blundell Sally 26 August 2012 Chapel holds special place for nurses The Press Retrieved 6 March 2016 Latham Iris Jean Neill Erwin Te Ara The Encyclopedia of New Zealand Retrieved 1 July 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nurses 27 Memorial Chapel amp oldid 1185520994, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
